37 Weeks Pregnant

Your Baby at Week 37

Your doctor may check for labor signs, while your baby prepares for birth by sucking, turning and breathing in the womb.

If your baby were born this week, he’d still be considered early term, but by week 39, that status changes to full term. He’s practicing for his grand entrance by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, blinking and turning from side to side.

Your baby has developed more dexterity in his fingers. He can now grasp onto smaller objects, like a toe or his nose.

Your baby is likely sucking his thumb a lot these days in preparation for his feeding sessions after birth.

You continue to pass antibodies — including those you developed from vaccines — to your baby that will help protect him from germs during birth.

If your baby were born this week, he’d still be considered early term, but by week 39, that status changes to full term. He’s practicing for his grand entrance by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, blinking and turning from side to side.

Baby’s Kicking and Moving

At 37 weeks pregnant, your baby’s lungs are likely mature — but that doesn’t mean he’s finished growing yet. In fact, until the end of week 38 he’s technically considered “early term,” and he's still packing on about a half an ounce per day or half a pound a week. At this age, the average fetus weighs about six-and-a-half pounds — though boys are likely to be heavier at birth than girls. And here's a bit of baby boy trivia to back that one up: Moms carrying boys tend to eat more than those expecting girls (a foreshadowing of teenage refrigerator raids to come!). That makes it a little crowded in your uterus, so he may not be kicking as much, though he’s probably stretching, rolling a bit and wiggling (all of which you’ll be able to feel!).

Practicing for Birth

So what's keeping your little one busy while waiting it out until D-day? Practice, practice, practice. Right now, your tiny superstar is rehearsing for his big debut, simulating breathing by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, sucking his thumb, blinking and pivoting from side to side (one day you feel his bottom on the left side, the next it has flipped around to the right).

Baby’s Head Is Huge!

Here's an interesting fact: Your baby's head (which, by the way, is still growing) will be at birth the same circumference as his chest. And guess what's making an impression (literally) these days on those shoulders and hips? Fat — causing little dimples in those cute elbows, knees and shoulders, along with creases and folds in the neck and wrists.

Your Body at Week 37

Dilation and Effacement

It's anyone's guess when your baby will decide to make his appearance (sociably early or fashionably late — or right on time?), but that doesn't stop your practitioner from taking a shot at guessing when labor will begin. Just what is your doctor looking for? First, for dilation, or how far your cervix has opened (it needs to open to 10 centimeters for the baby to pass through into the birth canal) along with cervical ripeness (the consistency of the cervix — it starts out being firm like the tip of your nose and softens to the same texture as the inside of your cheek before labor). Next he or she will check for effacement, or how thin your cervix is (it'll be 100 percent effaced before you push your baby out). The position of your cervix (it moves from the back to the front as labor approaches) will also be assessed. And last but not least, your practitioner will measure the position of the baby in relation to your pelvis (the lower down your baby is, the closer you are to delivery).

Although it all sounds very scientific, it's actually not. These processes can occur gradually, over a period of weeks or even a month or more in some women — or overnight. So while they're clues that you're indeed progressing, they're far from sure bets when it comes to pinpointing the actual start of labor. You can be very dilated and not have your baby for weeks. Or your cervix can be high and closed during an exam one morning, only to be open and ready for business — and labor — by noon.

Try This: Perineal Massage

Anxiously waiting for the big day to arrive? Don't just sit there — massage your perineum! Say what? Trust us, there's good reason for this piece of advice. Perineal massage may help to gently stretch your perineum, the area of skin between your vagina and rectum, which in turn can minimize the "stinging" that occurs when a baby's head crowns during childbirth. It may also help you avoid an episiotomy and tearing. Here's how to massage your way to a looser (and easier, if you’re lucky) delivery: First make sure your hands (or your spouse's, if he'll be taking on the task) are clean and nails are trimmed. Next, lubricate your thumbs and put them inside your vagina. Press down toward your rectum and slide your thumbs across the bottom and sides of your perineum, pulling gently outward and forward on the lower part of the vagina with your thumbs hooked inside. This helps stretch the skin in the same way your baby’s head will during birth. You can do this daily until D-day, and you can even continue the good work — or have your practitioner take over — during labor itself!

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More Tips

Common Symptoms

By the time your baby’s head is engaged in your pelvis, he’ll have a lot less room for any more than a twist or squirm. What’s important is that you feel some movement every day. Remember, though, that your baby is behaving like a newborn now and has interludes of deep sleep, when he barely moves at all.Read more

If the veins in your legs are acting up now, try sleeping on your left side, which is the best position for optimum circulation. Also try elevating your legs by putting a pillow under your feet. Both positions will keep the blood flowing.Read more

If your baby’s head is pressing into your pelvis, hips and bladder, you’ll feel more pressure as the week wears on. If you feel really uncomfortable, invest in a sling that will support the weight of your tummy and take pressure off your back and pelvis.Read more

If leg cramps are making a misery of your nights, try drinking more fluids during the day and make sure you’re eating enough magnesium and calcium (those almonds you’re munching for the heartburn come in handy again!). All three can help with leg cramps.Read more

With your boobs and belly (and possibly butt) as big as they’ve ever been, you’ve probably noticed those classic marks of maternity by now. Don’t worry, they’ll fade into silvery lines and turn into a badge of pride (or at least motherhood!) a few months after childbirth.Read more

There are so many things to keep track of now (Is the camera charged and packed? Do you have a baby outfit washed and ready to bring to the hospital? How many dinners are stocked in the freezer?) that it’s no wonder you’re walking around in a fog. Post reminders around the house and on your computer so you won’t forget anything important.Read more

You’ve heard that pregnancy insomnia is Mother Nature’s way of preparing you for the sleepless nights ahead, but try to squeeze in some shut-eye so you have enough energy for childbirth and beyond. Sleep in a little longer, nap when you come home after work or on weekends and give yourself a relaxing routine when it’s time for bed.Read more

Ask Your Doctor

I’ve been urinating frequently again like in the first trimester. Is this a sign of a UTI?

I spot after sex or a pelvic exam. Why? When should I contact you about it?

I have a thin, yellowish fluid leaking from my breasts. I don’t think it’s milk. What is it?

My friend told me she had a bowel movement during labor. How can I prevent that from happening?

How long will you let me go past my due date before you induce?

Since my baby is in the breech or transverse position, does that mean I have to have a C-section?

I’m worried about breastfeeding. Is there anything I can do to prepare?

Other than castor oil and sex, what other natural methods can I use to induce my labor?

If everything goes well, when can I return to work after I have the baby?

When and what should I expect of my first postpartum menstrual period?

When should we begin to discuss birth control options for after the delivery?

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.

The material on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, or in place of therapy or medical care. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy.